Question

The electron neutrinos created in the Sun's core change into another type of neutrino that we did not detect.

a) Muon neutrinos
b) Tau neutrinos
c) Sterile neutrinos
d) Anti-neutrinos

Answer 1

Photon neutrinos created in the Sun can change into muon neutrinos due to the phenomenon of neutrino oscillation, explaining the earlier detections which showed fewer neutrinos than expected.

Step-by-step explanation:

The electron neutrinos created in the Sun's core change into muon neutrinos during their journey from the center of the Sun to Earth, a process known as neutrino oscillation. This phenomenon was identified through several experiments, notably the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory, confirming that solar fusion produces electron neutrinos which can change into muon neutrinos, thus explaining why previous detectors, tuned to observe only electron neutrinos, registered fewer neutrinos than solar models predicted. While the subject of neutrinos and their properties remains a deeply researched field, the discovery of their mass and ability to oscillate between different types has been crucial in understanding both solar activity and larger cosmic phenomena.